buying a model A sight unseen

Joop said:
Mike

He is talking about the steel back Victoria.

Click here: 1931 Steelback Victoria 2013 Lexington MARC of Originality Winner - The Ford Barn
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Hey Joop,
Thanks for sharing, now I can see the 26K :) ! Nice web site too ! I'll have to visit and study it in more detail in case I get a A400A or A400 or 400A, eh :D !

Hey Bill,
Guess I'm lost, as usual. Thought that you are looking at a steel backed Victoria, not 400A ?
Do you have a picture of your car of your quest to share ?
 
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I buy and sell about 150 classic cars per year, the overwhelming majority of them long distance. If I have learned one thing after doing this for decades, it's that while you don't have to travel hundreds or thousands of miles personally to inspect a car you consider buyin especially not if you are not an expert on that particular car and model -- you DO need to have somebody who is indeed an expert have it checked out in YOUR behalf and report back to you. A Model A can look bitchin' on photos, but only an expert will be able to tell you how correct and nice the car really is in person. That's even more important when it comes to an expensive car, naturally.

Disclaimer: if that's a fine points car, recently judged, you can assume it's not a bucket full of bondo and repro parts.

Final pearl of wisdom: the entire world, from Europe to Japan to Australia buys "California cars" and I'm sure I don't have to explain why that's the case. A Californian buying a car from the coldest, rainiest, rustiest and saltiest part of the United States of America is . . . um . . . let me be polite . . . rather unusual.
 
Here is my story. I saw a 1929 model A roadsters pu on a web site and when I inquired I was told it was a pampered original with no rust and straight body. The pictures look great. I bought it and paid to have it shipped. When it arrived my jaw dropped it looked nothing like the pictures. Lots of rust, missing lots of parts. I was sick to my stomach that I had spent so much on this vehicle. I was fortunate that the seller took the car back. I would never again buy a vehicle without seeing it person an putting my own hands on it. What one person thinks is a nice car you may think is junk and visa versa. My 2 cents.
 
Brother Hesekiel said:
I buy and sell about 150 classic cars per year, the overwhelming majority of them long distance. If I have learned one thing after doing this for decades, it's that while you don't have to travel hundreds or thousands of miles personally to inspect a car you consider buyin especially not if you are not an expert on that particular car and model -- you DO need to have somebody who is indeed an expert have it checked out in YOUR behalf and report back to you. A Model A can look bitchin' on photos, but only an expert will be able to tell you how correct and nice the car really is in person. That's even more important when it comes to an expensive car, naturally.

Disclaimer: if that's a fine points car, recently judged, you can assume it's not a bucket full of bondo and repro parts.

Final pearl of wisdom: the entire world, from Europe to Japan to Australia buys "California cars" and I'm sure I don't have to explain why that's the case. A Californian buying a car from the coldest, rainiest, rustiest and saltiest part of the United States of America is . . . um . . . let me be polite . . . rather unusual.
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Wow, 150 per year :eek:! Hm, now I know who to speak with about classic cars :)!
Some of what you say is 'spot on' as they say, from first hand knowledge, but not necessarily fully accurate. For instance, I got stung by a NorCal guy when I got a '36 classic..without looking at it personally. For the record, I relied on the following to purchase this car without seeing:
First, I spoke to the seller and his wife on many occasions and got their story and the cars 'story'. Secondly, I asked a million and one questions about the cars various components and and got pictures of (some) their condition. I asked what needed to be fixed and if any add-ons were made. I asked about storage (ha..in airplane hanger with his plane(s))! I asked when it was driven last and by whom(ha, it had NO brakes/battery dead,etc) ) !! Ok, now I fixed the car and sold it to Germany..very happy German buyer :) !
Now here's where the buyer representative came in. He owns an import/export co. in Texas. Flies to CA to check out several buyers cars..to recommend consummation of sale. Bottom line, the buyer was fortunate that I am an ethical seller, as this rep was terrible at his job, to the point that I ALMOST warned the buyer about this guy, but not my business..I was advised. So, not dead bang certain that I'd ever trust such myself.
 
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Maybe I am old fashioned, but I don't think I could buy an antique car without seeing it in person.
 
There are some people I would trust to give an accurate apraisal if they also sent many pictures, but for this much money I'd be tempted to go inspect it in person and have a way to get it home in the same trip. At least you could save the expense of a second trip.
 
I'd go see it and take Tom, Mitch and Mike V. You've got to have someone knowledgeable take a look at the fine details. For most of us, 26K is real money and we'd not want to be taken. OTOH, there's a whole league of car guys for whom $26K would only make them yawn. Jay Leno comes to mind, but he'd also have the experts on hand to check anything out. Keep us posted.
 
Bill

A plane ticket and rental car are cheap considering you are not happy with the car when it arrives. If you like the car then it's cheap insurance. If you don't have any knowledge about A's it would be advisable to take someone experienced with you. If you cannot then look at the car carefully and ask questions here. I think everyone would be glad to steer you in the right direction on the purchase.

I too would not buy a car from Michigan without personally seeing and inspecting the vehicle carefully.

Joe
 
Yep - that seems to be quite expensive to me. IMHO its over priced. I would never purchase a car sight unseen unless I reserved the right to cancel the sale when I picked it up or had someone who I knew, trusted, had some expertise examine it first.
 
Having seen this car, I do not think it is overpriced at all. It is a rare body style in extraordinary original condition. I have seen improperly restored "soft top" victorias with incorrect paint and interior combinations priced in the mid-20K range and common coupe and sedans with average restorations in the 12-18K range. This isn't your average tri-toned Model A with yellow wheels, whitewall tires and a bunch of reproduction accessories. I think having the MARC of Originality award adds to the value as well. I maintain that this is a great car. I agree that 26K is a lot of money but this is a special car for a knowledgable Model A collector. There are a lot of restored Model As out there, but how many well preserved original cars are out there that look like this?
I'm going to stop now before I convince myself to buy this car!!!!
http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=145651
 

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when I go to Hershey this year im gona see what 26 g will get in a great original car,probably wont come close to this Ford.
 
rusty12 said:
Having seen this car, I do not think it is overpriced at all. It is a rare body style in extraordinary original condition. I have seen improperly restored "soft top" victorias with incorrect paint and interior combinations priced in the mid-20K range and common coupe and sedans with average restorations in the 12-18K range. This isn't your average tri-toned Model A with yellow wheels, whitewall tires and a bunch of reproduction accessories. I think having the MARC of Originality award adds to the value as well. I maintain that this is a great car. I agree that 26K is a lot of money but this is a special car for a knowledgable Model A collector. There are a lot of restored Model As out there, but how many well preserved original cars are out there that look like this?
I'm going to stop now before I convince myself to buy this car!!!!
http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=145651
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But we don't know if this is the car or not he is looking at as there is another in Mi for sale at the same price.

I'm out until we hear from Bill.
 
rusty12 said:
Having seen this car, I do not think it is overpriced at all. It is a rare body style in extraordinary original condition. I have seen improperly restored "soft top" victorias with incorrect paint and interior combinations priced in the mid-20K range and common coupe and sedans with average restorations in the 12-18K range. This isn't your average tri-toned Model A with yellow wheels, whitewall tires and a bunch of reproduction accessories. I think having the MARC of Originality award adds to the value as well. I maintain that this is a great car. I agree that 26K is a lot of money but this is a special car for a knowledgable Model A collector. There are a lot of restored Model As out there, but how many well preserved original cars are out there that look like this?
I'm going to stop now before I convince myself to buy this car!!!!
http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=145651
Click to expand...

Are we talking about this car? Now that's a car I would buy without having seen it in person, simply because it has been inspected by people who know more about Model A's than I will ever do and they said it's a fantastic car! And regarding the price . . . there's bargains and there's superb cars. It always pays off in the long run to get the best car you can afford. I would rather spend $26K on that car than $20K on a mediocre one, if I could afford it. What price can you put on originality, really? I'd love to have that car in my garage. One in a thousand, if not better.
 
I really need to stop thinking about this car or I am going to get myself in trouble (again). Here is a photo of the car at the Lexington National Meet ( Taken from the MARC Website judging section):
 

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Well, I guess for 26K I'd want some wow factor. I think there'd be a very small population, even including most Model A guys, who'd go wow. If that's the group you're aiming for, or if you would really enjoy owning this car, then you should keep working on acquiring it.
 
as Mike says.................

26,500. is a very fair price if it is in that fine of condition-as previously stated, plenty of messed up vickis over 20k..........
and yes, try to find another as nice.
 
I too would be afraid to buy about any car off of E-Bay, sight unseen. I know of too many horror stories where the buyer took it in the shorts.

Unless the seller is 100% honest, there is still the problem of perception. The seller MAY honestly think the car is mint when in reality it is a turd. PLUS, most sellers overrate their stuff.

Grading of about any collectible ( signs, coins, antique cars, etc.) is pretty much a gray area, open to being mis-interpreted.

Naw, for that kind of coin you better hop a plane and go to Michigan to see for yourself. Don't wait too long because the snow flies early and heavy up there and being from California, it will be a shock to your system.
 
Caveat emptor. Always. But in that price range I agree with the advice of buying the plane ticket and renting the car and looking it over in person. It's easy to get buck fever in that situation too, but at least you are left with only yourself to blame if the car turns out to be a lemon even after you looked at it.
 
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